China has firmly dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for European countries to apply economic pressure on Beijing in response to its position on the war in Ukraine.

Speaking via video to European leaders at a summit in Paris on Thursday, former U.S. President Donald Trump urged them to cease buying Russian oil and to take a harder line on China, accusing it of indirectly aiding Russia’s war efforts. A senior White House official confirmed the remarks, which were delivered in a closed-door session.

In response on Friday, China said it “strongly opposes” using the Ukraine conflict as a pretext to apply economic pressure on Beijing. The government reiterated its stance as a neutral party, called for peace negotiations, and accused Western countries of escalating the conflict by supplying arms to Ukraine.

China has not condemned Russia’s invasion or called for a troop withdrawal but claims to support a diplomatic resolution. Western nations remain skeptical, accusing Beijing of indirect support through increased trade and tech ties charges China denies.